Elastic lace



June 11, 1935. F. LUTTMANN, JR

, ELASTIC LACE Filed May 23, 1934 FredLuIZmann,Jn

Patented June 11, 1935 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELASTIC LACE Fred Luttmann, In, Chicago, Ill. 7 Application May 23, 1934, Serial No. 727,189

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an elastic lace. especially adapted for use in connection with boots, shoes and the like.

Heretofore, elastic laces have been manufactured which obviate the necessity of tying knots for securing the shoe on the foot of the wearer through the medium of adjustable anchors which are slidable on the lace to securely position or hold the free ends of the lace in the end eyelets.

There have also been manufactured elastic laces in which the anchoring or securing means is secured to the ends of the lace by means of crimping or the like, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an elastic lace which overcomes the necessity of employing separate anchoring means.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide on an elastic lace of the class described, an integral anchoring means which is easy to insert in the eyelet of the boot or shoe and which after inserted, will automatically assume an anchoring position with respect to the eyelet which will cause no discomfort to the user.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a perspective view of a shoe of the oxford type, illustrating the manner in which the elastic lace is positioned in the shoe,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the elastic lace,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a shoe of the oxford type, such as is illustrated in Figure 1, showing the manner in which the lace is inserted in the shoe,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of Figure 1 taken on line l thereof looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the novel manner in which the anchoring means of the lace is positioned and inserted in the eyelet of the boot or shoe, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lace, illustrating the anchoring means bent to the position for inserting the same in an eyelet of a boot or shoe.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts, the numeral 8 generally designates an elastic boot or shoe lace which is constructed of rubber or any suitable elastic material and which as clearly illustrated may be of rectangular shape in cross-section or if so desired, may be manufactured in circular cross-section. The elastic lace may be manufactured in any desired lengths depending upon whether the use is for shoes of the oxford type or boots.

The invention forming the subject of this application resides in providing the lace 8 with an integral elastic arrow-shaped head ID on each free end thereof. Thewidth of the elastic lace portion 8 and the integral arrow-shaped anchoring heads obviously depend upon the diameter of the eyelet of the shoes. However, for the most part, the diameter of shoe eyelets is standard in both men's and ladies shoes.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 5, the side portions !2 of the arrow-shaped anchoring heads in are bent inwardly by the thumb and first finger on the longitudinal axis of the anchoring head, as clearly illustrated in Figure'5, permitting the head It when folded in this position to be freely inserted in the eyelet M of the boot or shoe. After the head has been inserted through the eyelet M the inherent resilient character of the elastic head causes it to automatically assume its normal flat position to the end that the shoulder It abuts the inner side of'the eyelet firmly anchoring and'securing the lace in position in the shoe.

As shown, in Figure 3, one of the anchoring heads is inserted in one of the lowermost eyelets of the boot or shoe, and the other anchoring head in the manner previously discussed, and as clearly shown in Figure 5, is laced through the remaining eyelets in a conventional manner, until the last eyelet is reached, whereupon it is inserted from V anchoring head H3 assumes a fiat position bc' neath the instep portion I8 of the shoe firmly securing the lace therein and permitting of an elastic action of the lace.

Also, in this connection it is to be noted that by virtue of the integral resilient or elastic arrowshaped anchoring head which normally assumes a fiat position, the anchoring head is not only confined below the upper inset portion of the shoe out of sight and. thereby preventing an unsightly appearance, but also does not cause any discomfort to the foot of the wearer.

While there is shown for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be specifically understood that it is capable of various changes and modifications without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, and it is intended therefor that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon, as are indicated in the prior art or in the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed is: v

1. An elastic shoe lace having on each end thereof an arrow-shaped anchoring head of resilient material.

2. An elastic lace having on each end thereof an integral resilient fiat arrow-shaped anchoring head.

3. An elastic shoe lace having on each end thereof a resilient anchoring head. 

